Elton John gets Rockefeller award for AIDS campaign

Elton John is honoured for his contribution to fight Against HIV/AIDS and the stigma associated with the disease

Sir Elton John - The Rockefeller Foundation bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award on him for his fight against HIV/AIDS

Singapore: Sir Elton John will recieve Lifetime Achievement Award by Rockefeller Foundation for his contribution to fight against HIV/AIDS and the stigma associated with the disease.

In addition to being one of the world's most successful and dynamic musicians, Sir Elton John is well known globally as a leading advocate and philanthropist campaigning against HIV/AIDS. In the early days of the AIDS crisis, he was one of the first to realize that it was necessary to de-stigmatize HIV/AIDS before governments and other donors would devote major resources to fighting the disease. His personal leadership and philanthropy over many years has addressed discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS, and provided major resources for treatment and cure.

"At The Rockefeller Foundation, we are constantly searching for innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges," said Dr Judith Rodin, president, The Rockefeller Foundation. "As such, we are honored to recognize Sir Elton John for his unwavering commitment and contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS, and for the innovative work he has done not just targeting the disease, but also the stigma, discrimination, politics, and community-related concerns associated with it."

"From the beginning, it has been my steadfast belief that we would not be able to treat or cure HIV/AIDS when people living with the disease or very vulnerable to it are shunned, hidden, or denied their human rights," said Sir Elton John. "It is an honor to receive this award from The Rockefeller Foundation, an organization that has been at the forefront of leveraging innovation, in all its forms, to promote the well-being of humanity around the world."

The Rockefeller Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award is given annually to an outstanding individual who has implemented major innovative approaches to social or environmental problems. Some of the previous recipients of the award, include former US President Bill Clinton and Indian business tycoon Ratan Tata.